South Korea reduces penalties for shuttlers

The four South Korean badminton players accused of trying to lose matches at the London Olympics had their suspension reduced from two years to six months, the Badminton Korea Association said on Wednesday.

Jung Kyung Eun, Kim Ha Na, Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung were sent home from the London Olympics over allegations they deliberately lost matches because it would have led to them playing easier opponents in the next round.

The women’s doubles players initially received a two-year ban from the badminton association, but had it lowered after the quartet appealed the authority’s decision on grounds the ban was too harsh.

They players have argued they were only following the instructions of their coaches.

The coaches, Sung Han Kook and Kim Moon Soo, had their lifetime ban reduced to four years.

In addition to the South Korean teams, China and Indonesia also had badminton duos expelled from the Olympics.